Walker’s Appeal was first published in 1829 and was revised twice more by David Walker. The last revision culminated into the 1830 draft of the book, which is featured in this text.

Walker’s Appeal is perhaps the most unique of all the abolitionist tracts in American History and World History. Most of the abolitionists of the 19th century focused their efforts on mobilizing wealthy, white northerners. Their preferred strategy was called moral suasion, which essentially appealed to the moral conscious of the proslavery sector. The best known among this group is Frederick Douglass and William Lloyd Garrison.

Concurrent with the more mainstream abolitionist movement there was also a very lively antislavery movement that was led by free blacks that focused its efforts on mobilizing free blacks. Overwhelmingly they supported the immediate emancipation of slaves by all means. Within this circuit of abolitionist writers emerged one of the boldest and most insightful of all the abolitionists. David Walker called for the emancipation of all blacks by any means necessary and fervently lobbied against the colonization scheme. However what truly made Walker unique was passion combined with sharp insight, broad practical and academic knowledge, and faith that his mission was God’s will. Walker focused his efforts on mobilizing all blacks both slave and free.

This book should certainly be read by students of emancipation, black resistance, and African American History.